Studs Terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book Working, compiling more than 100 interviews of workers across America. The author has found Working to be a useful vehicle for exploring organizational issues and for confronting students with the realities of the workplace. Terkel’s interviews are honest, earthy, seasoned with experience, and, oftentimes, brutally frank. The insights captured by Terkel’s interviews possess the ability to captivate students and to attach meaning to management concepts. This article discusses the author’s use of Working as a teaching tool and students’ reactions to the book and corresponding assignments.
Bumpus, M. (2000). Brothers and sisters: A novel way to teach human resources management. Journal of Management Education, 24(3), 366-377.
2.
Elmes, M. B. (1994). Paradox and pedagogy in the charismatic organizational behavior classroom. Journal of Management Education, 18, 7-20.
3.
Gallos, J. V. (1997). On poetry and the soul of management education. Journal of Management Education, 21, 281-283.
4.
Griffin, R., & Bateman, T. (1986). Organizational commitment. In C. Cooper & I. Robertson (Eds.), International review of individual and organizational psychology. New York: Wiley.
5.
Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16(2), 250-279.
6.
Harrison, J. K., & Akinc, H. (2000). Lessons in leadership from the arts and literature: A liberal arts approach to management education through fifth discipline learning. Journal of Management Education, 24(3), 391-413.
7.
Judge, T. A., & Bretz, R.D., Jr. (1992). Effects of work values on job choice decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77, 261-271.
8.
Lancaster, H. (1998, April 29). Will hiring a full staff be the next fashion in management?The Wall Street Journal, B1.
9.
McClelland, D. C. (1971). Motivational trends in society. Morristown, NJ: General Learning.
10.
Organ, D. W. (1988). Organizational citizenship behavior: The good soldier syndrome. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
11.
Organ, D. W., & Konovsky, M. (1989). Cognitive versus affective determinants of organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, 157-164.
12.
Puffer, S. (1991). Managerial insights from literature. Boston: PWS-Kent.
13.
Rindfuss, R. R., Cooksey, E. C., & Sutterlin, R. L. (1999). Young adult occupational achievement: Early expectations versus behavioral reality. Work and Occupations, 26(2), 220-263.
14.
Rokeach, M. (1970). The nature of human values. New York: The Free Press.
15.
Stevenson, W. B. (1996). A muse of fire or winter of discontent: Teaching Shakespeare in the leadership course. Journal of Management Education, 20(1), 39-47.
16.
Terkel, S. (1970). Working. New York: The New Press.
17.
Zajdel, M. M., & Vinton, K. L. (1987). Beyond the story: How to use a literary critic in the organizational behavior class. Organizational Behavior Teaching Review, 12(3), 62-67.
